Mission Trips

Our time out there went very well, and we especially enjoyed seeing the bustling activity around the seminary buildings! Ministry isn't about buildings, but it's exciting when you see buildings God provided filled with people.

The first week I co-taught a pastor/elder retreat the seminary hosts each year. Our focus centered on "Outliving Your Ministry" as a pastor or lay leader and how the role of discipleship and leader development remains critically important for the mission of church leaders. Discussion and receptivity went really well, and we pray for these pastors and other leaders to implement some practical changes back in their own villages!

The second week, I led a course on an Introduction to Biblical Counseling. I always enjoy this class, as we strive to begin instilling in the students a passion for the Word's immense applicability to the problems of life.

Please be in prayer for God to raise up more leaders out here though! While it is exciting to see people in the seminary, the classes handle many more students. Furthermore, it doesn't seem readily apparent that there are many future pastors attending. We are praying and patiently waiting for God to call more prospective leaders for equipping!

In one week (Oct. 17-29) I embark with my family to Bethel once again for our ministry with the Alaska Bible Seminary. In addition to teaching my usual block course at the seminary (this semester on an Introduction to Biblical Counseling), we are also privileged to be a part of a unique opportunity to further encourage and equip pastors.

Each fall the seminary hosts a retreat for the Moravian pastors and lay pastors/elders from the villages across the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. This year after talking with another pastor friend of mine (Chris Kopp serving the interior village of Galena), I submitted an idea for us to lead the fall 2016 retreat. Next week (Tuesday - Thursday) we are leading this retreat on the theme, "Outliving Your Ministry" where we will be studying how the New Testament calls pastors to be looking toward the future by intentionally equipping/raising up more leaders.

The Moravian denomination in the Bethel region is facing some great needs; from lack of pastors, to youth deserting the faith, to older pastors retiring, to some threats of doctrinal compromise, to moral decay of society in general, to rampant problems with suicide, etc. It seems that never has there been such a time needing the wisdom, challenge, and strength from God's Word.

Will you please join our family in imploring God to build His church across Alaska's YK-Delta? It is our prayer that God raises up more men to herald the Word of God among their own people. At the end of the day, this is our collective passion as Jesus' church; to see God's glory reign supreme (Phil. 2:10-11). Join us in praying in step with Philippians 1:12 because at the end of the day, our sole message can only be advancing the glorious gospel.

Thank you so much for praying for the trip. All went well thus far. Currently I'm in the air still en-route back to Alaska.

While it is a very beautiful place, there are so many needs and opportunities for the Gospel still in Abkhazia and beyond. May we direct our prayers as Jesus instructed in Matthew 9 for God to send more workers into the harvest fields of the nations!

Hey all! I'm excited to announce that God opened an opportunity for me to serve on a short-term mission trip the end of June/beginning of July to the country of Abkhazia (June 28 - July 9).

God continues giving us a fresh passion for missions, and we are looking for opportunities to serve in short-term missions in addition to our Bethel, AK trips. Originally, we looked at going as a family on a trip somewhere, but this opportunity kept "knocking" on our door. Due to the nature of this trip, it seems wise for me to go "alone" on this one.

Let me say that we do have reservations about short-term mission trips that actually do more harm than good to the targeted culture (a great resource on this here). Thus, we really try to look at ministries where we can legitimately partner together and see followup for continual discipleship efforts. As we considered all the missionaries our church (where I serve on staff) supports, one of my friends who serves at a local mission ministry to Russia (SOAR), told me about this Abkhazia trip.

On a previous trip, God orchestrated contact with a local church pastor in Sochi, Russia. Well, this particular pastor also oversees several other area churches, including a small network of planted churches in the southerly bordering country of Abkhazia. This small country, about the size of Alaska's Kenai Peninsula, is populated by a few hundred thousand. As far as our friends can tell, this small network of planted churches are the only Gospel-preaching churches in the country.

In addition to wanting to start a Bible institute of some sort, these few pastors in Abkhazia face the war-torn history of their country and the harsh realities of financial, political, and spiritual struggles. We've learned that they stand in need of partnership, encouragement, and support as they seek to be faithful and persevere forward for the Gospel in their little region of the globe.

Thus, my trip will be partnering with our local ministry SOAR as an extension of our local church for the purpose of encouraging this network of pastors and exploring how we can further partner for the Gospel's advance in this region.

My expenses are largely for airfare ($2,550) as well as a few hundred dollars for local on the ground needs (lodging, food). If God places this trip on your heart, our family would greatly appreciate your Gospel partnership (Philippians 4:17)! We still use Central Missionary Clearinghouse for our missions funds. If you've never given to our ministry before, you can also choose donate directly through SOAR's site below. Your donation will go toward the Abkhazia trip regardless which link (CMC) or (SOAR) you give through. THANKS!

We GREATLY appreciate your prayers in our missions travels! While I serve currently as an associate pastor at Soldotna Bible Chapel, we are still blessed to head out a couple times each year for short-term mission trips. We count this an immense privilege, and appreciate your prayers! We will post back here on upcoming trips!